Johnny Tremain, a silversmith, is drawn into the war after meeting Rab Silsbee who becomes his best friend. Rab introduces Johnny to the world of revolutionary politics allowing him to meet many historical figures such as John Hancock, Paul Revere, John Adams, and Samuel Adams. Johnny, working closely with Paul Revere and other revolutionists, finds a new life that changes and matures him. He helped to prepare Boston for the battle ahead. Johnny Tremain, one of the main characters in the book, is the protagonist in the story.
Johnny Tremain, a young apprentice silversmith, is caught up in the danger and excitement of Boston in the 1770’s just before the Revolutionary War. Johnny can’t help being swept along by the powerful currents that will lead to the Boston Tea Party and the Battle of Lexington. But even more gripping than living through the drama of Revolutionary Boston is the important discovery Johnny made about his own life. The character of Johnny is very complex. Before a tragic accident, preventing him from doing what he loved to do, working with silver, Johnny was prideful and unforgiving.
With a crippled hand, Johnny cannot find sufficient work and he allows himself to feel sorrowful. Almost giving up all his hope, Johnny almost commits a crime. Yet, with his new job with the Boston Observer, the Whig newspaper, and his friendship with Rab, the Lornes, and the leaders of the revolution, Johnny takes a more truthful path. Inspired by their generosity and dignity, Johnny finds himself changing from a selfish boy into a dedicated man. On a conscious level, he models himself after his new best friend, Rab, trying to copy Rab’s quiet, meek confidence and mild temperament.
Benjamin’s identity comes from something intrinsic within him throughout the story, and even though he deals with society’s judgement and ridicule he still walks with his natural personality. “Benjamin increased his gait, and soon he was running. He would show them! He would go to Harvard, and then they would regret these ill-considered taunts... It was the biggest mistake Yale College had ever made.” Benjamin’s identity is defined by other characters around him, including his father who at one point forces Benjamin to wear a suit to which he refuses.
It helps to understand where he first fits in the story, “Within the last few months it became increasingly plain to me that Sir Charles’s nervous system was strained to the breaking point. He had taken this legend which I have read you exceedingly to heart--so much so that, although he would walk the grounds, nothing would induce him to go out upon the moor at night. Pg. 23 This statement is important to the story because it adds that believable element to his story. He was so terrified he never would’ve ventured near, which makes the ”official” story harder to swallow, and therefore the mystery more intriguing.
Johnny’s pride is recast under the guidance of Rab and the rebel leaders. His pride develops from an arrogant, defensive pride into a more effective, nobler sense of self. Johnny’s final step away from his defensive pride occurs when he allows Doctor Warren to examine his crippled hand. Interestingly, Johnny’s ultimate embrace of the haughtier side of pride is incidentally a result of another prideful soul: his father. As a French prisoner of war in Boston, Charles Tremain was too proud to reveal his own
John Steinbeck introduces us to the novel with Tom our main character recently being released from prison for killing a man in a bar fight. Tom is a new man he feels and is on his was home to his family, not knowing what kind of situation his family and him will soon be in. He seems like a good fellow that only killed a man in self defense and feels that if he had to he would do it again. He almost comes across as he is proud of what he did. As he catches up with his family and travels many miles, his attitude changes drastically.
Every man in A Gathering Of Old Men seemed weak and wanted to run away when they heard about the killing of Beau. Mat had said "seventy one and a half. I ain't got to much strength to go crawling under that bed like Fue said" (Gaines, 30) This shows that Mat always ran away from everything. Along with Mat saying this, Chimley said it to. when the men thought it was Mathu that killd Beau they knew they had to go.
Willy confidently boasts that, “Without a penny to his name, three great universities are begging for him, and from there the sky is the limit.”(Act 2). Willy also shows great pride in everything Biff does whether it be making fun of teachers or scoring touchdowns to win the big game. It appears as if nothing will break that father son bond, but the events that transcend the day Biff goes to Boston change everything. Biff arrives in Boston eager to see his father but he finds him in bed with another woman. At the exact moment he witnesses his father's betrayal, Biff's once optimistic personality is shattered.
‘’he had to lift himself from benath of stone’’ that means, that he has to carry on and hold his head high even though he has witnessed some tough things. He will never take anything for granted after all the bad things he has experienced. The positive side about this story is that, he is living in America now, where he is having a better life in America. Fireweed is written with a third person narrator who is omniscient. The story has point of view at Baluta.